IN THE CASE OF:
BOARD DATE: 19 October 2010
DOCKET NUMBER: AR20100012636
THE BOARD CONSIDERED THE FOLLOWING EVIDENCE:
1. Application for correction of military records (with supporting documents provided, if any).
2. Military Personnel Records and advisory opinions (if any).
THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST, STATEMENT, AND EVIDENCE:
1. The applicant requests award of the Purple Heart.
2. The applicant states he received burn injuries to his hands during a rocket attack while in combat. The applicant states his military medical records should show he was treated for his injuries.
3. The applicant provides no additional documentation in support of this case.
CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE:
1. Title 10, U.S. Code, section 1552(b), provides that applications for correction of military records must be filed within 3 years after discovery of the alleged error or injustice. This provision of law also allows the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) to excuse an applicants failure to timely file within the 3-year statute of limitations if the ABCMR determines it would be in the interest of justice to do so. While it appears the applicant did not file within the time frame provided in the statute of limitations, the ABCMR has elected to conduct a substantive review of this case and, only to the extent relief, if any, is granted, has determined it is in the interest of justice to excuse the applicants failure to timely file. In all other respects, there are insufficient bases to waive the statute of limitations for timely filing.
2. The applicant was inducted into the Army of the United States on 1 November 1966. He successfully completed basic combat and advanced individual training and he was awarded military occupational specialty 51K (Plumber).
3. On 24 July 1967, the applicant arrived in Vietnam and he was assigned to
B Company, 815th Engineer Battalion (Construction).
4. On 6 August 1968, the applicant departed Vietnam. On 7 August 1968, he was honorably released from active duty and he was transferred to the U.S. Army Reserve (USAR) Control Group (Annual Training) to compete his remaining Reserve obligation.
5. Item 24 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Commendations, Citations, and Campaigns Ribbons or Authorized) of the applicant's DD Form 214 does not show award of the Purple Heart.
6. There are no general orders in the applicant's service personnel records that show he was awarded the Purple Heart. There is no evidence in his service personnel records that show he was treated for wounds as a result of hostile action in Vietnam. The applicant's name is not listed on the Vietnam Casualty Roster.
7. Item 40 (Wounds) of the applicant's DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record) is blank and item 41 (Awards and Decorations) does not show award of the Purple Heart.
8. The applicant's Army medical treatment records are unavailable for review.
9. Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) provides, in pertinent part, that the Purple Heart is awarded for a wound sustained as a result of hostile action. Substantiating evidence must be provided to verify that the wound was the result of hostile action, the wound must have required treatment by medical personnel, and the medical treatment must have been made a matter of official record.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:
1. There are no orders in the applicant's service personnel records that show he was awarded the Purple Heart. There is also no evidence in the available records and the applicant has not provided any evidence that shows he was injured as a result of hostile action, that he was treated by medical personnel, and the medical treatment was made a matter of official record.
2. Regrettably, lacking any corroborating evidence of record showing the applicant was treated for a wound/injury that was the direct result of or caused by enemy action, the regulatory burden of proof necessary to support award of the Purple Heart has not been satisfied in this case.
3. In view of the foregoing, there is no basis for granting the applicant's requested relief.
BOARD VOTE:
________ ________ ________ GRANT FULL RELIEF
________ ________ ________ GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF
________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING
____X____ ____X____ ___X_____ DENY APPLICATION
BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION:
The evidence presented does not demonstrate the existence of a probable error or injustice. Therefore, the Board determined that the overall merits of this case are insufficient as a basis for correction of the records of the individual concerned.
____________X___________
CHAIRPERSON
I certify that herein is recorded the true and complete record of the proceedings of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in this case.
ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20100012636
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ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20100012636
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